Portman was an excellent choice to portray the vulnerable Evey who possesses an inner strength she never knew existed before she met V.
"Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot".
So begins the John Milton (Paradise Lost) poem about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes, along with a group of fellow soldiers, decided to assassinate King James I by blowing up Parliament. However, the plot was foiled when Fawkes was arrested on...November 5th. He has since become a symbol of rebellion and hope throughout the United Kingdom, so it is fitting that the main character in the DC/Vertigo Comics limited graphic novel series, V for Vendetta, sees Fawkes as a role model.
The year is 2027 and England is ruled by a neo-fascist dictator named Adam Sutler (John Hurt; Alien). The world is in a state of chaos and The United States is broken as the result of a second civil war. Sutler controls everything including the media and has made criminals out of anyone who is "different". Jews, Muslims, hom*osexuals, Immigrants, etc. are all "undesirable" and can be imprisoned under this regime. Years earlier V(Hugo Weaving; The Matrix) was one of these undesirables and was sentenced to Larkhill, a concertation camp where experiments were performed on the inmates. These experiments cause V to have "powers" and a thirst for revenge.
Evey (Natalie Portman; Black Swan) is a young woman who works for the state-run television station, BTN but when she gets caught outside after curfew, she finds herself in a dark alley surrounded by "fingermen" secret police (think KGB). When V saves her, she is grateful which is perhaps why she goes with him to the roof and watches as he blows up a national monument, thus solidifying their friendship, admiration, and love for one another in an unusual relationship that probably neither of them fully understands.
Portman was an excellent choice to portray the vulnerable Evey who possesses an inner strength she never knew existed before she met V. Weaving wasn't originally cast in V for Vendetta but was a replacement for James Purefoy (The Following) after the latter actor found it difficult to wear the mask all the time. Luckily, Weaving's melodic voice with soft and fluid tones works well as V basically offers soliloquies as a way of communication. Stephen Fry (Gosford Park) and Stephen Rhea (The Crying Game) are wonderful additions to the cast and bring weight to the film simply by their reputations as fine actors. The same can be said for Hurt as he brilliantly plays the power-hungry, rather unhinged Chancellor.
V for Vendetta is one of those movies that was meant to be experienced in 4K the 2160p video quality is superb and accentuates the colors and details of numerous scenes. While not as sharp as some other recent 4K releases, the film still benefits from the enhanced resolution. The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio is fantastic and readily offers richness to the explosions / fireworks scenes while showcasing the heavily orchestrated soundtrack. The 4K disc houses three, new extras and the Blu-ray disc includes all of the other previously released extras. The newly released extras include James McTeigue & Lana Wachowski in Conversation, Natalie Portman's Audition, and V for Vendetta Unmasked.
It is interesting to note that, though this movie was released 15 years ago, the idea of an insane leader becoming a dictator is very timely and, scarily, somewhat accurate. With a well-written script and plenty of explosions, V for Vendetta is a strong adaptation of a graphic novel and is entertaining, as well as, poignant.
If you have never seen the movie, I recommend it. If you are a fan, this release won't disappoint.
Grade: B+
V For Vendetta images are courtesy of Warner Bros.. All Rights Reserved.
Allison Rose, a Senior Correspondent and Critic at FlickDirect, is a dynamic presence in the entertainment industry with a communications degree from Hofstra University. She brings her film expertise to KRMS News/Talk 97.5 FM and broadcast television, and is recognized as a Tomatometer-Approved Critic. Her role as an adept event moderator in various entertainment industry forums underscores her versatility. Her affiliations with SEFCA, the Florida Film Critics Circle, and the Online Film Critics Society highlight her as an influential figure in film criticism and media.
FAQs
The movie holds up on all levels some fifteen years later. Warner Bros.'s new 4K UHD transfer with HDR10 looks impressive, the Dolby Atmos track is wonderful and loud, and the new bonus features that have been added are quite worthwhile. Highly Recommended!
Is V for Vendetta worth it? ›
As a simple film, V for Vendetta is pretty good. The cinematography and visuals are often stunning, really capturing the feel of a bleak dystopian future state. Hugo Weaving deserves much credit for making V an intriguing character, considering we never see his face.
Is V Evey's father? ›
Although a father figure, it says in the back of the book that V isn't Evey's father, Whistler's mother, or Charlie's aunt. To answer questions about V for Vendetta, please sign up. Scott As Eve herself says, learning V's identity or even seeing his true face would diminish him.
Why did James Purefoy leave V for Vendetta? ›
James Purefoy was originally cast as V, but dropped out after six weeks into filming. Although at the time it was reported this was because of difficulties wearing the mask for the entire film, he later stated that it was really due to creative differences on how V should be portrayed.
Why is V for Vendetta trending? ›
11 months into a year rocked by racial tension, a divisive election and a pandemic, the film "V for Vendetta" has trended on Twitter as fans point out eerie similarities between the film and the events of 2020.
Why was V for Vendetta controversial? ›
V For Vendetta deals with a lot of rather mature subject matter, as many Moore comics do and while there's no way anyone reading it could say that Moore was glorifying the fascism, racism, and hom*ophobia of the antagonists, there's a lot of very uncomfortable language and situations in the book.
How old was Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta? ›
How old was Natalie Portman V for Vendetta? As filming took place in 2005, Portman would have been 24, very close to Evey's age.
Was V in love with Evey? ›
V is also shown sobbing out of guilt for what he put Evey through, and admits before his death that he fell in love with her. In place of Finch, Norsefire official Peter Creedy and his men confront V at the end of the film, bringing High Chancellor Adam Sutler (Adam Susan in the graphic novel) as V has demanded.
Is V for Vendetta blind? ›
This would, of course, necessitate an expanded definition of the the meaning of the term 'kinesthesia." In the comic book, however, it mentions (in the Doctor's Diary), that he has eyes, and is not blind: "He looked at me today as if I were some sort of insect.
Why does V cry after Evey leaves? ›
Yet a glimpse of him breaking down crying and throwing his mask against his mirror as Evey leaves betrays the overwhelming feeling of being heart-broken and suffering a loss. He does feel emotion, but he makes a point of never betraying it to anyone that may consider it a weakness. Stress consumes his life.
Even in fiction, books that explore fascist violence are verboten—the DC Comics graphic novel V for Vendetta, by legendary comic book creator Alan Moore, is banned in three districts for some reason. (The film adaptation, which similarly deals with anti-fascist themes, is also banned in China and Russia.)
Who physically played V in V for Vendetta? ›
Most credit Hugo Weaving for bringing the masked vigilante V to life with his magnetic voice work and an only slightly exaggerated physical performance. But while Weaving ended up being the only voice of V, the character itself was originally played by James Purefoy.
Why is V called V for Vendetta? ›
The protagonist, V, symbolizes the revolution. V's name comes from the Roman numeral for five, which is the room number he was imprisoned in while being forced to undergo medical experiments at a resettlement camp. V writes a graffiti symbol that incorporates the letter V as a means of defiance against the government.
Is V for Vendetta a warning? ›
Parents need to know that this film includes recurring and explicit violence, including explosions, martial arts fights, knifings (with bloody results quite visible), shootings, and torture inside prison cells (where one character shares her space with a rat).
Why is the 5th of November important in V for Vendetta? ›
The date of November 5th was the date Guy Fawkes had been caught following a failed attempt at a rebellious destruction of the parliament buildings, an act of symbolism V was inspired to complete. The explosion at Larkhill, which allowed for V's escape, happened on November 5th.
How did V for Vendetta end? ›
V tells Finch that he can't kill the idea and the principles that V represents. Later, V dies in Evey's arms in the Shadow Gallery, leaving her with a parting request and an enigmatic mission.
Is V for Vendetta inappropriate? ›
Parents need to know that this film includes recurring and explicit violence, including explosions, martial arts fights, knifings (with bloody results quite visible), shootings, and torture inside prison cells (where one character shares her space with a rat).
Is V for Vendetta worth reading on Reddit? ›
The graphic novel is generally considered to be a deeper and more rewarding experience, with its unique writing style and humanization of characters being particularly praised. However, some find it more challenging to read than watching the movie.
What does V for Vendetta teach us? ›
What is the meaning behind V for Vendetta? The meaning behind "V for Vendetta" is largely a philosophical discussion about the opposing political ideologies of fascism and anarchy.
How long does V for Vendetta take to read? ›
The average reader will spend 4 hours and 56 minutes reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute).
